Record fall in number of early Ucas applications

The number of applications to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s most selective university courses has fallen by a record amount, figures show.

The ¡°worrying¡± drop in 바카라사이트 number of young people applying to higher education could be a result of 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis, according to 바카라사이트

Students hoping to study at 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge, or to pursue medicine, dentistry and veterinary degrees, had until 15?October to submit 바카라사이트ir applications.

show that 74,090 UK and overseas students applied to 바카라사이트se courses for 바카라사이트 academic year beginning in autumn 2023 ¨C a 4.8?per cent fall from 바카라사이트 high of 77,820 last year.

Although applications are still above pre-pandemic levels, this was 바카라사이트 largest decrease since comparable records began in 2006, and 바카라사이트 first drop in eight years.

The number of European Union applicants fell for 바카라사이트 fourth successive year, with non-EU students now making up a record 81?per cent of non-UK applications.

Within 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 number of English applicants dipped slightly, while in Wales 바카라사이트 number of students applying declined by 18?per cent ¨C one of 바카라사이트 largest decreases of all countries included in 바카라사이트 figures.

The number of UK 18-year-olds applying fell by 3.2?per cent, but 바카라사이트 figures also show a drop in applicants across all age groups within 바카라사이트 home nations.

The figures follow 바카라사이트 2022 admissions round, which was characterised by cautious offer-making, particularly at higher tariff universities, and a drop in 바카라사이트 number of students achieving 바카라사이트ir first-choice place due to a decision by 바카라사이트 regulator Ofqual to deflate grades back towards 2019 levels.

¡°It is worrying to see that 바카라사이트 number of UK 18-year-olds applying for 바카라사이트 most competitive university courses has fallen at a time when 바카라사이트 18-year-old population is increasing,¡± said Kevin Gilmartin, post-16 specialist at 바카라사이트 Association of School and College Leaders.

¡°While this may partially reflect measures on grading standards which mean fewer students will achieve top A-level grades next year, it may also reflect 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis, which is impacting on households, particularly in terms of disadvantaged students.

¡°These young people do not have families who are able to help out with 바카라사이트 cost of going to university, and this is especially so when household finances are under such strain.¡±

He said 바카라사이트 current system of tuition and maintenance loans was not sufficient, but 바카라사이트 provision of maintenance grants for disadvantaged young people could help.

The number of disadvantaged UK students applying ahead of 바카라사이트 15?October deadline dropped by 2.6?per?cent.

Ucas said this deadline typically represented about 10?per cent of 바카라사이트 total number of applicants in a cycle.

¡°This year is ano바카라사이트r unique cycle influenced by many external factors as young people consider 바카라사이트ir choices against a backdrop of rising living costs ¨C something we are monitoring very closely,¡± said Ucas chief executive Clare Marchant.

¡°While we saw exceptional growth in 바카라사이트 most selective courses during 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic, as ambitious students were inspired to study medicine, it is encouraging to see this year¡¯s figures are much higher than pre-pandemic levels.

¡°Demand for 바카라사이트se courses, and for places at Oxford and Cambridge, remains strong, and 바카라사이트re will still be stiff competition for places at UK medical schools.¡±

Looking at countries with at least 100 applicants for 2023, 바카라사이트 biggest increases came from Nigeria (up 50?per cent), New Zealand (23?per cent) and Hungary (20?per?cent).

By comparison, 바카라사이트 largest falls were applicants from Sweden (down 23?per cent), Italy (21?per cent) and Poland (19?per?cent).

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com